2022 Vaccine Requirements
2022 College Vaccine Requirements and Submitting Proof
All students, faculty, staff and visitors must meet Barnard’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements, which means that they have received their primary COVID-19 vaccine series and one booster dose, when eligible.
Getting these required vaccines, or having an approved medical or religious exemption, is part of the Barnard Community Commitment and Personal Responsibility Pledge. Members of the College community who are vaccinated must continue to comply with all of Barnard’s COVID-19 policies because vaccination does not exempt anyone from College coronavirus protocols.
The bivalent (updated) boosters (available since 9/2/2022) are highly recommended and optional at this time. All students, faculty, and staff are also highly advised to get a flu vaccine.
How to submit documentation
- COVID-19 vaccine and booster:
- Community members must comply with the College’s COVID-19 vaccine and booster requirement by uploading their documentation as soon as they are eligible, as defined by CDC guidelines.
- Vaccine and booster documentation should be uploaded into Open Communicator as per these instructions. Documentation for any other non-required, additional doses can also be uploaded into Open Communicator.
- Flu Vaccine:
- Students, faculty and staff do not need to upload proof of vaccination, but they should save their documentation wherever possible for future reference.
Questions about the College’s policies and procedures can be directed to vaccine@barnard.edu. Questions specific to your personal circumstances should be addressed with your healthcare provider.
How to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
Eligibility
The College follows CDC guidance to determine eligibility for the COVID-19 booster. If you’re unsure of when you will be eligible, you can calculate your eligibility here.
- Please note that as of October 21, 2022, the CDC updated the immunization schedule for COVID-19 boosters. People that have been vaccinated with two primary doses of either a Pfizer vaccine or a Moderna vaccine or the last booster can now receive an mRNA bivalent (updated) booster after 2 months.
- Future updates to eligibility will be communicated on this site, in coordination with CDC updates found here.
- People who have received your initial doses of vaccination series outside of the United States with WHO-listed vaccines are eligible for a bivalent booster vaccination as per these CDC guidelines.
- If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, you should wait until you are out of isolation and your symptoms have resolved to get a booster. In consultation with the College’s infectious disease experts at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. Marina Catallozzi, Vice President of Health and Wellness & Chief Health Officer, has set the following adjusted requirement for community members who have recently tested positive for COVID-19: unless they received monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma treatment, they should be boosted as early as 10 days after (if they are back to their baseline health) and within 4 weeks from the positive test date.
How to Get Boosted
People ages 5 years or older may choose to get a different COVID-19 vaccine than what they originally received for their primary series.
CDC’s recommendations allow for this type of mix-and-match dosing for booster shot.
You can get a booster shot anywhere that offers the brand of vaccine you want. **Note:
- Most NYC-run vaccine sites are now accepting walk-ins of any eligible age.
- The New York State and City websites also provide location listings.
- For locations outside of New York, enter your zip code on the Vaccines.gov webpage.
- There are hotlines that may be used to locate a nearby vaccination appointment:
- NYC: (877) VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692)
- NYS: (833) NYS-4VAX (1-833-697-4829)
- Anywhere in the US: 1-800-232-0233
Flu Vaccine Information
How to Submit Documentation (Students only)
Documentation should be uploaded into Open Communicator as per these instructions. Students who were vaccinated at PCHS do not need to take any further action.
How to Get a Flu Vaccination
- Everyone ages 6 mos and older can get a flu shot.
- Flu vaccines can be administered at the same time as COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters.
- Appointments are not required. To find a vaccination site near you, you can use New York City’s Vaccine Finder or the Vaccine.gov webpage.
Vaccine FAQs
If you have difficulty uploading your vaccine documentation due to technical difficulties, you should email vaccine@barnard.edu.
You will not know who is and who is not vaccinated; however, Barnard faculty, staff, and students will not be allowed on campus unless they have met the vaccine requirement or have received a religious or medical exemption. Unvaccinated members of the community will be informed of the additional precautions that they will be required to follow, which may include increased testing, required masking and other requirements. Additionally, per CDC guidance, we advise unvaccinated community members who have a COVID-19 exposure to take extra precautions in masking, monitoring for symptoms, and testing after 5 full days after exposure (even without presence of symptoms).
All enrolled students and employed faculty and staff are required to participate in Barnard’s COVID-19 surveillance testing program. More information on the testing program can be found on the Barnard On-Campus COVID-19 Testing Information Document.
A limited eligibility window for religious/medical exemption considerations applies to only new students or employees of the College.
Any circumstances that need consideration for existing members should be communicated with vaccine@barnard.edu.